Improvement in grain-separators



C. E. MERRIFIELD. Grain-Separator.

No. 222,360. Pa tented Dec. 9, 1879.

N. PEIERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON n O QUNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES E. MEBRIFIELD, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAlN-SEPARATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 222,360, dated December 9, 1879 application filed October 14, 1879. v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. MERRI- FIELD, of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and

State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grain-Separators, of

which the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawlugs.

My invention relates to a new mode of shaklng the grain out of the chaff and stra'w of a separator; and it consists, mainly, of the new construction and arrangement of the shaklng devices; also, in the new combination of elements, which are deemed essential in my newly-organized device, as will hereinafter he first fully described in the specification, and thenset forth in the claims.

I In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference in the different figu'res indicate like parts, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved.- device. Fig.

.2 isga side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken longitudinally through the center; and Fig. 4 is a modified form of the shaking device. i

A, A, B, and 0 represent, respectively, the two sides, top, and bottom of a box in which are mounted four shafts, D, G, I, and D, the

ends of each shaft having hearings in the sides A A. The shafts D and G are pro- "ided on one end, outside of the side A, With cranks K K, which are connected together by the connecting-rod L, and operated by the pitman P. It is obvious that the end 1) of the pitman P must be connected with a crank or eccentric (not shown) for operating the shafts D and G. Each of the shafts D and G is necting-rod L are operated, a vibrating motion is imparted to the cranks K K, also to the shafts D and G, thus causing the flexible straps f and a to be alternately loosened and tightened, thus tossing the straw that maybe placed thereon and shaking out the grain from the chaff and straw.

The shafts D and G are set.lower in the frame than the shafts D and I, and the straw is tossed from the lower set of straps, a,1onto the upper set, f, and from there out of the box.-

The shafts D and I maybe providedat one end with ratchets D and I and pawls m m, for the purpose of holding said shafts, and at the same time permitting the slack of 'the flexible straps to be taken up when said straps become too loose.

In Fig. 4 I have represented a modified form of the shaking device, in which D is a shaft provided with projecting arms H ,1to which is secured one half of a hinge, 'v. The other half of said hinge is attachedto a stripof wood, 0, and the strip 0 is attached to the strip 0 by the hinge a, on top. The outer end of the strip 0 passes through the shaft 1 as shown. When the shaft D is operated or vibrated one way the bisected strip 0 0 drops down at the hinge-joint u, and when the shaft D is vibrated in the opposite direction the bisected strip 0 0 assumes the position shown, thus tossing the straw and separating the grain in-- the same manner as with the flexible strips shown in Figs. 1 and 3. V i

What I claim as new is-- 1. In a shaking-screen for separating grain from chaff and straw, the shaft D, provided with arms H and a crank, K, combined with the flexible straps f and shaft I, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The shaft D, with crank K and arms Hj,

combined with the flexible straps f and the shaft I, with ratchet I at one end, and pawl m, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. MERRIFIELD.

Witnesses:

E. O. FRINK, G. A. BENNETT. 

